But Durham now need to discuss with Stokes how next summer will look, and it will be one of the first tasks for Ryan Campbell in his new role as director of cricket.
The Australian has spent the past four seasons as head coach, and enjoyed having Stokes in the dressing room and part of his team, and he believes that the all-rounder is keen to continue playing county cricket – and the red-ball stuff in particular.
“Yes, I do, I honestly do,” Campbell told BBC Sport in an interview before his new role was announced.
“His love of the game, he talks about his bowling run-up and stuff that he can adapt to county cricket so he can bowl more. The playing, the batting, where he wants to bat, this sort of stuff, he’s all-in I would have thought for the next couple of years at least.”
When Stokes was suspended by the ECB for the second Test in June, it was Durham where he rediscovered his love of the game after the troubles of the Ashes in Australia last winter and the broken curfew post-Lords.
Being in and around the Riverside, singing the Blaydon Races after team victories and helping academy youngsters with practice is something that has not gone unnoticed.
“Ben’s England through-and-through, but he is Durham through-and-through,” said Campbell.
“He loves the club. The proudest thing I’ve ever had in relation to our work was when he said, ‘I want to go back and play at Durham because the time there has been so amazing’. That’s a big rap for our club and our environment that we’ve created.”
